Fluid Release Mechanism

ABSTRACT

A fluid release mechanism for a smoking article comprises two longitudinally arranged parts ( 2,3 ), rotatable relative to one another from a first to a second position, a space to receive a fluid- containing member ( 4,5 ) and a contacting member ( 6,7 ) for contacting the fluid containing member in the second position, wherein the contacting member is arranged so that rotating from the first position to the second position causes relative angular movement between the contacting member and said space which causes the contacting member to enter the space for contacting and rupturing the fluid- containing member, thereby to release fluid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a fluid release mechanism for a smokingarticle such as a cigarette.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a breakable gelatin capsule containing a fluidflavourant, for example menthol, inside the plug material of a cigarettefilter. When pressure is applied to the outside of the filter, the plugmaterial surrounding the capsule presses against the capsule, therebyrupturing the capsule and releasing the flavourant. Smoke drawn from thecigarette is then flavoured by the flavourant as it passes through thefilter. In this way flavour can be selectively added to the smoke drawnfrom the cigarette by squeezing the outside of the filter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an alternative approach for selectivelymodifying the characteristics of smoke.

The present invention provides a fluid release mechanism for a smokingarticle, comprising first and second longitudinally arranged partsrotatable relative to one another from a first to a second position, thesecond part having a space to receive a fluid-containing member and thefirst part having a contacting member for contacting thefluid-containing member in the second position, wherein the contactingmember is arranged so that rotating from the first position to thesecond position causes relative angular movement between the contactingmember and said space which causes the contacting member to enter thespace for contacting the fluid-containing member, thereby to releasefluid.

As used herein, the term “smoking article” includes smokeable productssuch as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos whether based on tobacco,tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobaccosubstitutes and also heat-not-burn products.

Preferably, the fluid release mechanism is comprised in a smokingarticle filter, which in turn may be comprised in a smoking article. Thefluid release mechanism may be arranged inside the smoking articlefilter so that when the fluid is released, smoke passing through thefilter comes into contact with the fluid, which acts to modify thecharacteristics of the smoke, for example, by flavouring the smoke.

As used herein the term fluid includes any substance which flows andtherefore includes liquids, gases and solids (e.g. in powder or granuleor grain form, or plastic solids) which are able to flow.

Preferably, the fluid is a fluid flavourant. As used herein, the terms“flavour” and “flavourant” refer to materials which may be used tocreate a desired taste or aroma in a product. They may include extractse.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile,fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb,wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Dramboui, bourbon, scotch,whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamon, celery, cascarilla,nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil,vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine,ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, ora mint oil from any species of the genus Menth a), flavour maskingagents, bitterness receptor site blockers, receptor site enhancers,sweeteners e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine,cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol,and other additives such aschlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breathfreshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or naturalingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, forexample, oil, liquid, or powder.

Optionally, the fluid-containing member may contain a smoke-modifyingfluid other than a flavourant. For example, the fluid-containing membermay contain a humectant, or liquids such as water or Vitamin A solutionfor filtering certain elements from the cigarette smoke

The fluid-containing members are preferably breakable fluid-containingcapsules and are further preferably formed from gelatin.

Preferably, the fluid release mechanism comprises a restrictionmechanism configured to prevent further angular movement away from thefirst position when the first and second parts are positioned in thesecond position.

Preferably, the fluid release mechanism comprises a locating mechanismconfigured to locate the parts in the first position and the secondposition. The locating mechanism ensures that the parts are locatedsecurely in the desired position so that capsules are not accidentallyruptured by unwanted rotation of the parts caused for example bymovement of the eventual cigarettes during transport or in a consumer'spocket.

The locating mechanism may be adapted to generate an audible sound uponrotation from the first position to the second position. The audiblesound provides an audible indication to the user that a capsule has beenbroken.

Preferably, the fluid release mechanism is adapted to house two capsulesand comprises two spaces, one for each capsule. The two parts arepreferably further rotatable relative to another from the first positionto a third position and the first part preferably comprises a further(second) contacting member for contacting a capsule in the thirdposition. While rotating from the first position to the second positioncauses relative angular movement between the first contacting member anda first of said spaces which causes the first contacting member to enterthe first space for contacting and rupturing a first of the capsules,rotating from the first position to the third position causes relativeangular movement between the second contacting member and a second ofsaid spaces which causes the contacting member to enter a second of thespaces for contacting and rupturing a second of the capsules. Preferablyrotation from the first position to the second position is in theopposite direction to the rotation from the first position to the thirdposition. For example, the direction of rotation from the first positionto the second position may be clockwise and the direction of rotationfrom the first position to the third position may be anticlockwise. Inthis way, the user may selectively rupture either the first or thesecond capsule by twisting the filter either clockwise or anticlockwise.

The first and second capsules may contain different flavourants forexample menthol and orange essence respectively. Thus, the user mayrelease either a menthol flavourant, an orange essence flavourant, orboth flavourants.

Optionally, the first and second capsules contain the same flavourant.In this case, the user may select the intensity of flavour by eitherbreaking none, one or both capsules.

Preferably, the first part is formed from moulded plastic and the secondpart is formed from moulded plastic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, an embodimentthereof will now be described by way of illustrative example withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1( a), 1(b) and 1(c) are perspective views of a fluid releasemechanism.

FIG. 2 shows a smoking article comprising the fluid release mechanism.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section and an end view of the fluid releasemechanism in a first position.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section and an end view of the fluid releasemechanism in a second position.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section and an end view of the fluid releasemechanism in a third position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a fluid release mechanism 1for a smoking article filter. As shown, fluid release mechanism 1comprises first and second substantially cylindrically shaped parts 2, 3which fit together so as to be rotatable relative to one another. Asshown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the fluid release mechanism 1 houses twobreakable, flavourant-containing capsules 4, 5, which can be selectivelyruptured by twisting the second part 3 relative to the first part 2 ineither a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction. As shown in FIG. 1,the first part 2 has protrusions in the form of bosses 6, 7 to break thecapsules. Preferably, the capsules 4, 5 are formed of gelatin andcontain different flavourants, for example menthol and orange essencerespectively.

FIG. 2 shows a smoking article 8 having a filter 9 incorporating thefluid release mechanism 1. As shown, filter 9 comprises two rods ofcellulose acetate 10, 11 axially aligned at either end of the fluidrelease mechanism 1 and is wrapped with a first wrapper in the form of aplugwrap paper 12.

As shown, the smoking article 8 has a paper wrapped tobacco rod 13axially aligned with filter 9. A tipping paper 14 is wrapped around anend portion of the rod 13 and the filter 9 to join them together.

The wrappers 12, 14 are circumferentially perforated at the peripheralregion where the parts 2, 3 meet so as to allow the filter 9 to betwisted. The wrappers 12, 14 could be pre-perforated or alternativelylaser perforation could be performed after the filter 9 is wrapped.

In this way, the first part 2 of fluid release mechanism 1, the firstrod 10, a first portion of the plugwrap 12 and a first portion of thetipping paper 14 form a first filter segment 15 of filter 9. Similarly,the second part 3 of fluid release mechanism 2, the second rod 11, asecond portion of the plugwrap 12 and a second portion of the tippingpaper 13 form a second segment 16 of filter 9.

A capsule 4, 5 may be ruptured by holding one of the filter parts 15, 16in place and twisting the other part either clockwise or anticlockwise,thereby breaking the circumferential perforation in the wrappers 12, 14.Twisting the second filter segment 16 in one direction causes the secondpart 3 of the fluid release mechanism to twist relative to the firstpart 2 so that the first capsule 4 is ruptured and the mentholflavourant is released. Thus, smoke drawn from the cigarette will beflavoured by the menthol flavourant as it passes through the filter.Similarly, twisting the second filter segment 16 in the oppositedirection causes the second capsule 5 to be ruptured so that the orangeessence flavourant is released. Thus, the menthol flavourant or theorange essence flavourant may be selectively released by either twistingthe filter clockwise or anti-clockwise. Alternatively, the user mayrelease both flavourants by first twisting in one direction, thentwisting back to the original position and then twisting in the oppositedirection.

As shown in FIG. 1( a), the second part 3 has a cylindrical body 19 anda cylindrical collar 20 and the first part 2 has a cylindrical body 21which defines a cylindrical sleeve 22 which receives the collar 20.Referring to FIG. 2, the sleeve 22 has an annular outer lip 23 whichfits into groove 24 which runs circumferentially around the periphery ofthe outer wall of the collar 20, adjacent to the body 19. In this way,the first and second parts can be rotated relative to one another whilebeing held in longitudinal position by the lip 23.

As shown in FIG. 1( a), a longitudinally extending groove 17 is formedin the body 21 of first part 2 and a longitudinally extending groove 18is formed in the body 19 of second part 3. The grooves 17, 18 arevisible as indentations in the filter 9 when the wrappers 12, 14 areapplied, and thus provide a visual indication of the relative alignmentof the parts 2, 3 and hence of the filter parts 15, 16.

As shown in FIG. 1( b), the second part 3 has two capsule-receivingrecesses 25, 26 for the capsules 4, 5. The capsule-receiving recesses25, 26 have inner openings 27, 28, which lead into first and secondcylindrical holes 29, 30, which extend longitudinally through the secondpart 3 and define outlet openings 31, 32, as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1( b), the second part has three recesses 33, 34, 35,each adapted to receive the bosses 6, 7 of the first part 2 in thepositions illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. In the position illustratedin FIG. 3, the first boss 6 is aligned with and received in the recess33 and the second boss 7 is aligned with and received in the recess 35and neither of the capsules 4, 5 is broken. In this way, the first andsecond parts are securely located in position and are prevented frommoving out of place until the user decides to twist the filter.

The bosses are made from a resilient plastic so that when the secondpart 3 is rotated by a user relative to the first part 2, the bosses 6,7 longitudinally compress and move out of the recesses 33, 35. Continuedrotation then brings one of the bosses 6, 7 into register with thecentral recess 34. Once aligned, the boss 6, 7 resiles and snaps intoposition in the recess 34, causing a “click” sound.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the boss 7 is in alignment with the recess 34,the boss 6 is positioned in the capsule-receiving recess 26. Similarly,as shown in FIG. 5, when the boss 6 is in alignment with the recess 34,the boss 7 is positioned in the capsule-receiving recess 25. Twistingthe fluid release mechanism from the position shown in FIG. 3 to theposition shown in FIG. 4 thus causes the boss 6 to be brought along anangular displacement path, into the capsule-receiving recess 26 where itcontacts, presses against and bursts the capsule 5. The capsule 5 isheld in position by the sidewall of the recess 26 as the boss 6 pressestransversely against it. In this way, the capsule 5 is laterally pinchedbetween the boss 6 and the sidewall of the recess 26 until it bursts.

In a similar way, twisting the fluid release mechanism from the positionshown in FIG. 3 into the position shown in FIG. 5 brings the boss 7along an angular displacement path into the capsule-receiving recess 25,where it ruptures the capsule 4. In this way, one of the capsules 4, 5can be selectively ruptured by twisting the filter from the position ofFIG. 3 to either the position of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5.

As described above, when the boss 6 is brought into the position of FIG.4 so as to rupture the capsule 5, the boss 7 snaps into position in therecess 34, causing a “click” sound. The “click” sound provides anaudible indication to the user that a capsule has been broken.Furthermore, the boss 7 is securely located in the recess 34 and thusthe first and second parts will not move out of position until the userdecides to twist the filter again.

Similarly, when the boss 7 is brought into the position of FIG. 5 so asto rupture the capsule 4, the boss 6 snaps into position in the recess34, thereby causing an audible indication that a capsule has been brokenand securely locating the parts 2, 3 in position.

The capsules may also make an audible sound when ruptured by the bosses6, 7. This audible sound adds to the sound made when the bosses snapinto place in the recess 34 and thus provides a louder audibleindication for the user that a capsule has been broken.

As shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the holes 30, 29, two further holes36, 37 extend through the second part 3 defining two further outletopenings 38, 39. As shown in FIG. 3, the hole 37 is arranged so thatsmoke can pass through the hole 37 from the first part 2 to the secondpart 3, even when the capsules 4, 5 have not been ruptured. In each ofthe positions shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, smoke may pass from the hole40 into the hole 37.

As shown, the first part 2 has a substantially kidney-shaped hole 40having two lobes. As shown in FIG. 3-5, the two lobes are arranged toallow smoke to flow through the hole 40, through recesses 25, 26 andthrough the holes 29, 30 (via openings 27, 28) and out of the outletopenings 31, 32 in any of the positions shown in FIG. 3, 4 or 5,provided that the respective capsule 4, 5 (or both capsules) has beenruptured. This ensures that smoke will pass through the region in whichflavourant is released so as to become flavoured.

Many modifications and variations will be evident to those skilled inthe art that fall within the scope of the following claims.

1. A fluid release mechanism for a smoking article, comprising first andsecond longitudinally arranged parts, rotatable relative to one anotherfrom a first position to a second position, the second part having aspace to receive a fluid-containing member and the first part having acontacting member for contacting the fluid-containing member in thesecond position, wherein the contacting member is arranged so thatrotating from the first position to the second position causes relativeangular movement between the contacting member and said space whichcauses the contacting member to enter the space for contacting thefluid-containing member, thereby to release fluid.
 2. A fluid releasemechanism as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a locating mechanismconfigured to locate the parts in the first position and in the secondposition.
 3. A fluid release mechanism as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe locating mechanism is adapted to generate an audible sound uponrotation from the first position to the second position.
 4. A fluidrelease mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the locating mechanismcomprises: a resilient locating member comprised in the first part; andfirst and second recesses comprised in the second part, the first andsecond recesses being adapted to respectively receive the resilientlocating member in the first and second positions; wherein rotating fromthe first position towards the second position causes the resilientlocating member to move out of the first recess and compress against thesecond part and wherein further rotation causes the compressed resilientlocating member to rotate until it becomes aligned with the secondrecess, into which it resiles so as to snap into place in the secondrecess, thereby causing said audible sound.
 5. A fluid release mechanismas claimed in any preceding claim, including the fluid-containingmember.
 6. A fluid release mechanism as claimed in any claim 5, whereinthe fluid is a fluid flavourant.
 7. A fluid release mechanism as claimedin claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the fluid-containing member is abreakable capsule.
 8. A fluid release mechanism as claimed in anypreceding claim, further comprising a restriction mechanism configuredto prevent further angular movement away from the first position whenthe first and second parts are positioned in the second position.
 9. Afluid release mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein thesecond part has a further space to receive a further fluid-containingmember, wherein the first and second parts are further rotatablerelative to another from the first position to a third position, whereinthe first part has a further contacting member for contacting thefluid-containing member in the third position, wherein the furthercontacting member is arranged so that rotating from the first positionto the third position causes relative angular movement between thefurther contacting member and said further space which causes thecontacting member to enter the further space for contacting the furtherfluid-containing member, thereby to release fluid contained in thefurther fluid-containing member.
 10. A fluid release mechanism for asmoking article as claimed in claim 9, comprising a locating mechanismconfigured to locate the two parts in the first, second and thirdpositions.
 11. A fluid release mechanism as claimed in claim 10, whereinthe locating mechanism is adapted to generate audible sound uponrotation from the first position to the second position and uponrotation from the first position to the third position
 12. A fluidrelease mechanism as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the firstand second contacting members are resilient and the second partcomprises first, second and third recesses, wherein: the first and thirdrecesses are adapted to receive the first and second contacting membersin the first position; the second recess is adapted to receive thesecond contacting member in the second position and the first contactingmember in the third position; wherein rotating from the first positiontowards the second position causes the second contacting member to moveout of the first recess and compress against the second part, andwherein further rotation causes the compressed second contacting memberto rotate until it becomes aligned with the second recess, into which itresiles so as to snap into place in the second recess, thereby causingan audible sound; wherein rotating from the first position towards thethird position causes the first contacting member to move out of thethird recess and compress against the second part, and wherein furtherrotation causes the compressed first contacting member to rotate untilit becomes aligned with the second recess, into which it resiles so asto snap into place in the second recess, thereby causing an audiblesound.
 13. A fluid release mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 12,wherein rotation from the first position to the second position isoppositely directed to rotation from the first position to the thirdposition.
 14. A fluid release mechanism according to any of claims 9 to13, including the fluid-containing member and the furtherfluid-containing member.
 15. A fluid release mechanism according toclaim 14, wherein the fluid contained in the fluid-containing member isa flavourant and the fluid contained in the further fluid-containingmember is a flavourant.
 16. A fluid release mechanism according toclaims 14 or claim 15, wherein the fluid contained in thefluid-containing member and the fluid contained in the furtherfluid-containing member are different fluids.
 17. A fluid releasemechanism according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein thefluid-containing member and the further fluid-containing member arefluid- containing capsules.
 18. A fluid release mechanism according toany preceding claim wherein the first part is formed from mouldedplastic and the second part is formed from moulded plastic.
 19. A filterfor a smoking article comprising a fluid release mechanism as claimed inany preceding claim.
 20. A smoking article comprising a filter asclaimed in claim
 19. 21. A fluid release mechanism for a smoking articlesubstantially as herein described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.
 22. A smoking article substantially as herein described withreference to the accompanying drawings.